Bible Commentaries
Hebrews 10

Verse 1

The law ; the ceremonial law, or Jewish economy.

A shadow ; an emblem of the blessings of the gospel, but not the blessings themselves, or even an exact likeness of them.

The comers thereunto ; to the service prescribed by the law.

Perfect , that is, as elsewhere expressed, "perfect as pertaining to the conscience," chap Hebrews 9:9 . See also below, verses Hebrews 10:2 ; Hebrews 10:22 . It could not cleanse the consciences of the worshippers from a sense of guilt.

Verse 3

A remembrance again made of sins every year ; showing that the sins of those who offered sacrifices have not yet received a true expiation.

Verse 4

Should take away sins ; by making an expiation for them. The sincere offerers of these victims under the law did indeed receive forgiveness; but it was by virtue of the atonement of Christ, which the Jewish sacrifices prefigured. The sacrifices under the Old Testament were not an atonement for sin, but typical of the atonement which was to be made, and pointed the believing offerer to the sacrifice of Christ.

Verse 5

He ; Christ.

Sacrifice and offering ; such as were presented under the law God no longer desired, Psalms 40:6-8 ; a psalm which had its fulfilment in David only in a lower and typical way, but was prefectly fulfilled in Christ the great antitype.

But a body has thou prepared me ; the quotation is made from the Greek version of the Seventy. The Hebrew is, "Mine ears hast thou opened," that is, to hear and do thy will. How the difference has arisen is not known. But in both the essential idea is, that the Messiah makes a perfect devotion of himself to the Father to do his will.

Verse 7

The volume of the book ; the Scriptures, which foretold the coming of Christ.

Verse 8

Above , when he said ; that is, after he had first said, "Sacrifice and offering," etc.-"then said he," etc., verse Hebrews 10:9 .

Verse 9

The first ; the sacrifice of the law.

The second ; Christ, doing the will of God in his obedience, sacrifice, and death.

Verse 10

By the which will ; of God as done by Christ, especially in his suffering and death, believers are justified and sanctified. Christ crucified as an atonement for sin is the great subject of the Old Testament scriptures. Their principles and precepts, their rites and ceremonies, their sacrifices and offerings, their predictions, declarations, and promises have reference to him; and one who does not see them in this light will never apprehend the fulness, or duly appreciate the perfection of their meaning.

Verse 11

Oftentimes ; morning and evening daily.

Verse 12

This man ; Christ.

On the right hand of God ; in an exalted state of glory, which is evidence that his atonement once for all is accepted, and is efficacious in securing the salvation of all who believe.

Verse 15

The Holy Ghost-is a witness ; to the above-mentioned truths, by what he has said in Jeremiah 31:33-34 . The testimony of the Holy Ghost in the Old Testament is in accordance with his testimony in the New. It is equally a part of God’s revelation to men, and without understanding it, men cannot be skillful in the word of righteousness, or well fitted to communicate a knowledge of it.

Verse 17

And their sins ; supply before these words, Then said he.

Verse 18

No more offering ; no need of any further atonement.

Verse 19

Into the holiest ; into the true holy of holies; that is, into God’s presence in heaven.

By the blood of Jesus ; which has already been presented there in our behalf.

Verse 20

Living way ; of which life is the attribute-which conducts those who are spiritually alive to life eternal; in contrast with the way of dead works, in which those who are dead in trespasses and sins walk onward to eternal death.

Consecrated for us ; initiated and dedicated as a new way in our behalf.

Through the veil , that is to say , his flesh ; as the earthly holy of holies was entered through the veil, so we have access to the heavenly holy of holies, that is, to God’s presence in heaven itself, through the flesh of Christ offered as our propitiatory sacrifice for sin.

Verse 21

The house of God ; his spiritual household, the church.

Verse 22

Draw near ; to God on his throne of grace.

Hearts sprinkled-bodies washed ; the reference is to the consecration of the Levitical priests by the sprinkling of blood and the washing of water, Leviticus 8:6 ; Leviticus 8:23-24 ; Leviticus 8:30 , which shadowed forth the true consecration of believers to their spiritual priesthood by the sprinkling of the blood of Christ, and the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Titus 3:5 ; 1Pe 1:2 ; 1 Peter 2:5 . In approaching God, Christians should discard and reject all mediators except Jesus Christ. They need no other; and to trust in another is to reject him.

Verse 23

Hold fast ; by continuing steadfast in the belief of the truths of the gospel and in the practice of its duties.

Verse 24

Provoke ; excite each other to abound more and more in love and good works.

Verse 25

The assembling ; for public and social worship.

Exhorting one another ; to continue in steadfast adherence to truth and duty.

The day approaching ; when Christ will save his friends and destroy his foes. Assembling for social worship is essential to the promotion of the divine glory, to the greatest progress in holiness, and to the highest usefulness among men.

Verse 26

Sin willfully ; by renouncing Christ after having embraced him, and rejecting his gospel after having known and acknowledged it to be his. Chap Hebrews 6:4-8 . No other atonement will ever be made, and if we reject this after having known its efficacy, and willfully turn away, refusing to trust in it for salvation, we shall perish.

Verse 28

Died without mercy ; Deuteronomy 13:6-10 .

Verse 29

He be thought worthy ; who has been set apart to the service of Christ, and yet treats him as a vile malefactor, and despitefully spurns the blessed influences of his Spirit.

Verse 30

That hath said ; Deuteronomy 32:35-36 .

Verse 31

To fall ; especially after such aggravated transgressions.

Of the living God ; as a just, almighty, and eternally avenging God. The knowledge of that certain and awful destruction which awaits believers if they renounce Christ, is a powerful means of preventing it, and one which God blesses in keeping them by his mighty power through faith unto salvation.

Verse 32

Call to remembrance ; remember the grace of Christ, which sustained you in your former trials.

Verse 34

Ye have ; for yourselves, in heaven.

Substance ; possession.

Verse 35

Confidence ; in the ability and willingness of Christ to support, deliver, and save.

Great - reward ; in peace of mind here and endless glory hereafter.

Verse 36

Patience ; in suffering as well as in doing the will of God.

The promise ; of eternal life.

Verse 37

He that shall come will come ; an application to the coming of Christ of the promise made in Habakkuk 2:3 , where the coming is also one that has in view the destruction of the oppressors of God’s people, and their salvation.

Verse 38

The just shall live by faith-no pleasure in him ; quoted for substance from the Greek version of Habakkuk 2:4 .

Draw back ; give up confidence in Christ, deny him, and renounce his cause to escape suffering, or for any other reason.

No pleasure ; God will abhor him.

Verse 39

We ; true Christians.

To the saving of the soul ; Job 17:9 ; John 4:13-14 ; John 10:28-29 ; 1 Peter 1:2-9 . The assurance God has given that he will keep his people in the floods of tribulation, however high they may rise, and in the fires of affliction, however fiercely they may burn, is suited to inspire strong and living confidence in him, and firm, energetic, persevering devotion to his service.